Doña Ana County, NM Trash & Recycling: Illegal Dumping (2026)
Key Facts
- Ordinary illegal dumping fine
- up to $1,000
- Hazardous waste dumping fine
- up to $5,000
- Abatement notice period
- 30 days
- Non-compliance remedy
- County abates, liens property
- Enforced by
- Sheriff's Dept, Environmental Codes Enforcement
- Applies only in
- unincorporated county
Summary
Doña Ana County fines illegal dumping up to $1,000 for ordinary refuse, litter or garbage disposed of outside an authorized landfill, and up to $5,000 for illegally dumped hazardous waste. Section 287-6(B) sets both penalties on top of the County's power to abate the mess and lien the property.
A fine of up to $1,000 may be assessed against any person who discards or disposes of refuse, litter or garbage on public or private property in any manner other than by disposing of it in an authorized landfill or other disposal facility; and A fine of up to $5,000 may be assessed against any person for the improper or illegal disposal of hazardous materials or waste in any manner other than as provided for in the Hazardous Waste Act, NMSA § 74-4-1 et seq.
Full Breakdown
Section 287-6 of the Code of Doña Ana County sets enforcement and penalties for the entire solid waste article. ' Those enhanced fines were added by Ordinance No. 235-2011. Before or alongside prosecution, § 287-6(A) lets the County abate an unresolved violation itself once 30 days pass after written notice and place a lien against the property for the abatement cost, collected the way NMSA § 3-48-4 provides for solid waste charges. The Doña Ana County Sheriff's Department and the County's Environmental Codes Enforcement unit enforce the article, and both must respect residents' Fourth Amendment rights: absent consent or an apparent violation visible from a public way, they need a warrant before inspecting private property for a dumping violation.
Violations & Fines
Ordinary illegal dumping of refuse, litter or garbage outside an authorized landfill draws a fine of up to $1,000 under § 287-6(B)(1). Illegally dumping hazardous materials or waste draws a fine of up to $5,000 under § 287-6(B)(2). Either violation can also trigger a County abatement action and property lien under § 287-6(A) if the owner does not clean it up within 30 days of written notice.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the fine for illegal dumping in unincorporated Doña Ana County?
Can the County make me pay for cleaning up dumped waste on my land?
Does the Sheriff need a warrant to inspect my property for dumping?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Doña Ana County
Compare Doña Ana County to another location·View the New Mexico trash & recycling overview
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